1 & 2 Samuel

2 Samuel Chapter 6

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

2Samuel 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

David wanted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem which was good and it was done with rejoicing but it wasn't done according to the instructions given by God to Moses. The Ark represented the holiness of God and was not to be touched by man. Instructions were given in the law of Moses for this. They rejoiced here but were careless by not having reverence and respect by checking first by the law to see if it was done the way God instructed. There is a time we rejoice and there is a time when we recognize the holiness of the presence of God and show respect.

We sometimes forget the holiness of God. When sin entered our world, it separated us from God. Adam use to walk in the garden with God. This sin had to be removed before we could be in God's presence and live. This is why Jesus became one of us. He was God the Son that came into human flesh, became a man. He did not sin any time when He lived among us. When He died by the hands of cruel men, He died in our place. Our sins were nailed to the cross. When we believe and receive this, we can come to God, and pray to God without going to a priest because the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. We still should always show reverence and respect in our places of worship but we can enter into His presence without fear.

All these examples in the Old Testament are types and shadows of the good things to come. The law given to Israel by Moses, shows us how holy God is and that we needed someone to come and take that sin away and reconcile us back to our creator. We then can be filled with the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. We do not know even where the Ark of God is today. We are under grace and we can come to God by faith. Preachers and prophets can now show us how to get to God through Jesus but we now pray and seek God on our own and do not have to rely solely on a priest like they did in the Old Testament. The door to God is open through Jesus. He is now the only way to God and eternal life through faith in Him.

Uzzah and the Ark

2Samuel 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

The Ark was to be carried by four priests putting staves through the rings on the Ark and not touching it. Exodus 37:5, Deuteronomy 10:8,

Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

Here is the passages of scripture where the Ark of God was first made.

Exodus 37:1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.
3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it.
4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.

More about this in Numbers chapter 4. The one who made the Ark could touch it to cover it with gold and add rings for carrying it but this was before it was dedicated and made holy by the presence of God. The dedication of the Ark and Tabernacle is recorded in Exodus chapter 37. The Philistines also touched the Ark but it was in innocence. They didn't know any better. These here should have known the law concerning holy vessels of the Lord. All these things show us God's holiness and how bad we all need to be cleansed from sin. After being cleansed from sin by our faith in Jesus, we are reconciled to God our creator. We then are able to enter into God's presence.

2Samuel 6:8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.
12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

David was troubled when Uzzah was struck dead and wondered what went wrong here. Yet when God blessed the house of Obededom when the ark was there, David's hope was revived and he fetched the Ark to the city of David. This time he did it according to the law. This caused rejoicing and gladness.

We can learn from this. In our worship services, we should allow freedom in our worship but also have reverence and awe at the presence of the Lord. Reverence and respect should always be present but also rejoicing and gladness in the Holy Spirit. God is holy and we are to worship Him in holiness and in Spirit and in truth.

David and Michal

2Samuel 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

It was like we would celebrate a holiday only this one was to glorify and worship with thanksgiving the Lord. He shared plenty of food to everyone present to observe the return of the Ark of God to the city of David which was Jerusalem. It was a time of rejoicing and praise. This time David did it according to the law of God given by Moses years before.

Unfortunately Michal the first wife of David and Saul's daughter was not at all happy at these events and thought badly of David when she saw him worship. There are those at least in the past that use to speak badly of those that worshipped the Lord with a lot of emotion. They use to call them holy rollers. Loud emotional worship or quiet worship is not wrong if done with joy and reverence to the Lord from our heart and soul within us. If it's in mockery or gets so it's just routine and our minds and hearts are not sincere, that is different. We should never make fun of those that worship our Lord and judge them since we don't know their hearts. I've seen women spin around in circles, men leap over pews, people shouting, singing, praising, running and dancing in spontaneous worship. Growing up around that brings back good memories as a child. I was never frightened but felt secure and safe around true worshippers of God.

2 Samuel 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

Instead of being out there leading women in worship, she stood back and found fault. I've been around these kind of people before and they are bitter unhappy people. Let people worship the Lord with joy and gladness.

People go to football games and go wild when their team makes a touchdown. How much more is God worthy of our praise than a football player?

2Samuel 6:21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

I wonder if David should have just allowed her to stay with her previous husband. Maybe she had resentment left over from the time she was forced to leave him at David's command. However, that is just my speculation. We should never interfere and criticize someone's sincere worship of God. Since we do not know anyone's heart, we can't really know whether their worship is genuine or not. This must have hurt David. Michal didn't have any children by David and I assume David didn't come near her after this. -DC

2 Samuel Chapter 7